Water Works

So its late at night, and Im looking through some of my many thousands of memories of this year.

Big mistake, let the water works begin.

I dont want to face reality.

Im not going, sorry!

Jul i København

So i was in København again during the weekend, which was just so amazing. Its really one of the most amazing and most beautiful cities I have ever been to. Denmark does Christmas so well, and it all just fits. There is fresh snow on the ground, and lights in the trees. It just works. I am in love.

So in København I went to the Copenhagen Jazz House one night, which was just amazing. Jazz just fills your body, you actually feel it in your bones. Its upbeat yet relaxing, it has an amazing power over the mind I think.

We were also (of course) doing some last minute shopping for Jul, which on Strøget is really fun, yet super expensive, but hey you only live once so tusind tak til min mors kreditkort hehe.

We walked up to see the Little Mermaid who was home after having a few months holiday in China. We waited outside Amalienborg Palace, to see if we could see Princess Mary and family in the window. We ended up seeing their Christmas tree being delivered, so now can officially say I have seen the Royal Christmas Tree!

We café hopped along Nyhavn, sat in the Marble Church warming our feet and found the most amazing Vintage clothing store as well as the Dansk Arkitektur Center in Christianshavn.

The last night in KBH was spent at the opera, Madame Butterfly, at the absolutely breathtaking new Opera House. There is just something about the building which just draws you in, makes you think, makes you ask how. How someone thought of such a design, how they actually took a drawing and brought it to life. I loved it so much, and the opera itself wasn't too bad either!














A great trip all in all, ended with a 12.30am train home, getting to Fred at 3am nd waiting in minus 10 degree weather for 3 hours for a taxi, then sleeping for 2 hours then school. Life of an exchange student hey? Wouldn't change it for anything.

Now its officially Christmas in Denmark so GLÆDELIG JUL!!!

ill just go and enjoy my chocolate box like surroundings and have some gløgg, YUM

Lucy xx

This is it.

The days are vanishing, where did time go? Less than a month to go in Denmark. Puha...

So at the moment I am trying to fit in every last thing i can before I go home, I have made a calendar and everyday is full with plans of seeing people, traveling, packing, family time etc its INSANE.

Here are a few pics of what I've been up to lately. I'll try fill you in more when I am sitting down for more than 10 minutes :)

Top to Bottom:
My family 'Julefrokost', traditional Danish Christmas meal.
Let it snow!
Andreas and I in Odense, at HC Andersens Hus
Bremen, Germany Christmas decorations
Bremen, Germany Unhelig concert
Jacob Jensen Showroom Tour close to Skive, Northern Denmark
Copenhagen at Christmastime!
Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen.














Argh am so behind on this blog thing now....am so so busy.

But a few more feet of snow have fallen, just in time for a white Christmas tomorrow.

God Jul!

Lucy x

Kærlighed

I love the way you make me laugh, make me smile, make me feel alive even when the common cold is getting me down.

Love is a powerful thing, it hurts, it fills you with a sense of euphoria. This year has been the test.

The day I step on the plane home, it doesn't stop.

Keep the love going, thought of my day today <3

I just can't go

Tonight I had my Rotary Presentation, all in Danish. I spoke about this year, which is really hard to be honest. Trying to fit a year into a 25min speech? Was a challenge to say the least. But I did it, and it went really well. I was so happy as I was so nervous I would all of a sudden lose the ability to speak any word of Danish. But I could remember what I needed and I felt so good being able to do something like that, speaking in a foreign language that i have only been exposed to for 10 months or so, being in front of 50 people, all at least 20 years older than me. But I did it, it's done. Now to continue with my organised chaotic life.

So after my speech tonight, my host mum Ulla, gave everyone a piece of paper. She had written a song for me, like a goodbye song that was from all of my host families, like a little story of my exchange put into a tune. It was the sweetest thing, when everyone began to sing it I burst into tears. I can't leave this place, it will hurt too much.

Tonight was one of the first times I cried at the realisation I'm going home. Lots more where that came from.

Here is the song, in Danish. Google translate NZ people.


Til vores låne datter og søster Lucy.

Den lille Lucy rejste
Med kufferten så rød og fuld
Hun var jo spændt på folket og
på den danske muld

Først kom hun ned til Skærbæk
Og kiggede på det klare vand
Hun smilte for nu havde hun
Mødt den største mand! (far Ib)

Det næste stop var Fyns land
Hos Kirsten og Andreas bror
De går i samme klasse
og sammenholdet gror

Det sidste hjem er Taulov
Og mange ting er kommet til
Mentalt og ganske fysisk
En flyver fylde vil

Til slut vi alle takker
For den du er og så fordi
Vi har dig lært at kende
Vi takker alle ti (Niels og Nanna er også med)

Kærlige hilsner og knus fra

Nanna, Lærke, Gitte, Ib, Kirsten, Andreas, Søren, Niels, Ulla og Jens

Heartbroken from Half a World Away

Pikes Peak Mine, 29 miners trapped and now presumed dead after two huge explosions.

The little nation of New Zealand in mourning, our biggest national disaster since Erebus. I am just absolutely heartbroken about this tragedy. And although I am here, far away from home, I still feel so part of it and so so sad for all those involved, and even those who are in NZ. When something happens to NZ, everyone groups together to pull through. I suppose it comes with having such a small population, and the strong bond that most kiwis possess.

Although I am here, half a world away from this, it has still touched my heart and I pray for all those who have been affected by this.

Denmark has an important place in my heart, but New Zealand is still my home.

See you soon Aotearoa

x

Oh the Places You Will Go

This poem has brought tears to my eyes, it speaks with such truth about this year, exchange and all the complexities and amazing highs you experience. I'll read it before I leave this far away home from home, and will keep up the tradition of crying happy tears. Thanks Mads for giving it to me, love you so much sis <3

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You’re off to Great Places!

You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look’em over with care. About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.” With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down a not-so-good street.

And you may not find any you’ll want to go down. In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town. It’s opener there in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

You’ll be on your way up!

You’ll be seeing great sights!

You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don’t.

Because, sometimes, you won’t.

I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you.

You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch. And your gang will fly on. You’ll be left in a Lurch.

You’ll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump. And the chances are, then, that you’ll be in a Slump.

And when you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked. A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin! Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in? How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And if you go in, should you turn left or right…or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite? Or go around back and sneak in from behind? Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find, for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused that you’ll start in to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.

The Waiting Place…for people just waiting.

Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting.

No! That’s not for you!

Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying. You’ll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing. With banner flip-flapping, once more you’ll ride high! Ready for anything under the sky. Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all. Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don’t. Because, sometimes, they won’t.

I’m afraid that some times you’ll play lonely games too. Games you can’t win ‘cause you’ll play against you.

All Alone!

Whether you like it or not, Alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot.

And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants. There are some, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.

But on you will go though the weather be foul. On you will go though your enemies prowl. On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl. Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak. On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.

You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

Kid, you’ll move mountains!

So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So…get on your way!